OPEC Member Countries Economy

Source: OPEC 11/24/2013, Location: Middle East

Ecuador’s credit rating was increased one notch by Fitch Ratings on the outlook for faster economic growth amid increasing financial stability. Fitch raised the long-term foreign debt rating to B from B- with stable outlook. The upgrade reflects the country’s continued healthy growth performance, which is growing by more than 3% since 3Q10. It also highlights the monetary and financial stability in Ecuador. The country is also benefiting from the availability of financing from China and multilateral lenders.

Ecuador obtained a $1.2 billion, four-year loan from China in August and expects an additional $400 million in credit in both 2014 and 2015, according to the Finance Ministry. Public expenditures, forecast by the finance ministry to increase 7.8% this year, are likely to continue driving growth. The finance ministry expects the economy to expand 4.05% this year.

The SABB HSBC Saudi Arabia PMI of October signalled a further improvement in the operating conditions at Saudi Arabian non-oil producing private sector companies. The headline index posted 56.7 compared to 58.7 in September. The rate of improvement in October was the slowest in three months. The survey showed a slower pace of growth of both output and new orders, whereas new export orders rise at fastest pace in survey history.

Last month, the UAE announced a three-year federal spending plan of about $38.1 billion, a 15% increase over the previous plan for 2011-2013. As part of the three-year plan, the budget of 2014 is also announced with total expenditures of around $12.6 billion. Around 51% of the budget is announced to be assigned to social development and welfare projects. The UAE’s non-oil producing private sector companies reported a solid rise in order intakes during October, with the rate of growth in new work the second-highest recorded in the survey history. The PMI of last month indicated a further increase in output. The pace of expansion eased to the slowest in three months, but remained sharp overall. The index remained in the expansion territory in October posting 56.6.